A Story of Treatment and Recovery

Like that one part of Little Women when Beth gets scarlet fever

All summer, I’ve been saying foolish things about how chemo isn’t that bad, and how lots of stuff they said would happen to me didn’t, like sores in the mouth. My doctor at Roswell warned me that I’d have sores in my mouth that would hurt so much I might not be able to brush. “Sores in your mouth,” I used to say, “doesn’t that sound awful? Like something that would happen to Job.”

Now, of course, because I tempted fate, I am starting to get the sores in my mouth, I think. But at least my fingernails haven’t gone all wonky like they were supposed to. Wouldn’t that be gross?

Anyway, I’ve been sublimely indolent lately, spending all my time knitting, reading mysteries, and playing on the computer. I haven’t done anything I’m supposed to do in ages, and I don’t plan to today. I’m more or less set to take Advanced German at Buff State this fall, which to my mind will make finishing my incompletes much easier – I’ll have a schedule, other homework, access to a library, and all that.

I’m feeling much better after the unpleasantness of Round Four, but still very low energy. I’ve been taking a lot of naps. Next week is my last shot of poison in Bloomington, which I’m excited about in that Stockholm-syndrome-y way I have. I dimly remember something about chemo making me feel like hell, but it’s so hard to remember feeling sick once you feel better, so I always look forward to infusions as a break in my routine.

A friend from college sent me a postcard the other day with a quote from Winston Churchill: If you are going through hell, keep going. I’m adding it to my library of encouraging remarks.

Biotene is a mouthwash brand they have here that does not contain alcohol, which I think would sting most unpleasantly on mouth ulcers of any kind. I’m sure there’s an equivalent. I recall Meera suffered from this side-effect, but I don’t recall if there was any specific supplement or procedure she used to alleviate them. Lysine is good for cold sores – maybe that would help. Of course, all vitamin and mineral supplements, especially any herbals, should be run past your medical support team for interactions.